Ch 9 Discursive Psychology Flashcards
What was the shift in focus during the “Turn to Language”?
The shift was from individual intentions to the productive potential of language, which began to be seen as constructing versions of social reality and achieving social objectives.
What disciplines influenced psychology’s turn to language?
Philosophy, communication theory, history, and sociology—particularly the works of Wittgenstein, Austen’s speech theory, and Foucault’s studies of discursive practices.
What were some key critiques of cognitivism according to Potter and Wetherell (1987)?
Talk is not simply a route to cognition, 2) Cognition is not always based on perception, 3) Objective perception of reality is questionable, 4) There aren’t consensual objects of thought, 5) Cognitive structures aren’t necessarily enduring.
How do cognitive psychologists and discourse analysts differ in their view of language?
Cognitive psychologists see language as a way to express and access internal cognitions (thoughts, beliefs). Discourse analysts view language as a social action, where meaning is shaped by social context and participants’ goals in conversation.
Why is social context important in discourse analysis?
In discourse analysis, what people say is shaped by their social context, e.g., disclaiming undesirable identities like “sexist” in certain situations. People’s responses aim to achieve social objectives, like managing how they are perceived.
What does discourse analysis emphasise about speech?
Speech is seen as social action aimed at accomplishing something in conversation, not simply reflecting internal thoughts. People’s attitudes may vary across different social contexts depending on the stakes involved.
How do cognitive psychologists view cognitions in relation to reality?
Cognitions are mental representations of real-world objects, events, and processes, even if they simplify or distort them. These representations help interpret new experiences and are seen as attempts to capture reality.
What is the discourse analytic stance on representations of reality?
Discourse analysts argue that reality is constructed through language, not represented. There’s no objective perception of reality; meaning is negotiated and constructed through social interaction and discourse.
How do cognitive psychologists explain errors in perception, and how do discourse analysts respond?
Cognitive psychologists attribute errors in perception to biases or heuristics, while discourse analysts argue that perceptions are constructed through language, so the idea of an objective reality is flawed.
What is the cognitive perspective on attitudes and attribution theory?
Attitudes describe evaluations of social objects, and attribution theory focuses on how people explain events. The cognitive approach assumes that the objects themselves are consensual (i.e., everyone agrees on what the object is, but disagrees on why it happens or if it is good or bad).
How do discourse analysts view attitudes and attributions?
Discourse analysts argue that social objects are constructed through language. People’s attitudes and attributions reflect how they discursively construct the object or event, rather than differing views on a stable, consensual object.
How would discourse analysts explain different accounts of the breakup of the Soviet Union?
If framed as a result of economic processes, it’s attributed to global economic factors. If framed as a victory in the Cold War, it’s attributed to US political strategies. The object itself is constructed differently through language, not just the attitudes towards it.
What is the role of cognitive structures in cognitivism?
Cognitivism assumes that stable cognitive structures (like beliefs and attitudes) exist in the mind and remain predictable over time. Changes in these structures are explained by external variables like new experiences or persuasive messages.
How does discourse analysis challenge the concept of stable cognitive structures?
Discourse analysis argues that people’s accounts and views are context-dependent, shaped by the discursive situation. Speech acts (e.g., justifying, excusing) reveal what people are doing with language, not underlying stable cognitive structures.
How is discourse analysis more than just a research method?
Discourse analysis critiques mainstream psychology, offering an alternative way to conceptualize language and psychological phenomena. It focuses on the productive nature of discourse and the construction of social reality through language.
What are the two main versions of discourse analysis in qualitative psychology?
Discursive Psychology (DP) and Foucauldian Discourse Analysis (FDA). DP focuses on local interaction and how language is used to achieve interpersonal objectives, while FDA is concerned with how discourse constructs subjectivity, selfhood, and power relations.
What intellectual traditions inspire Discursive Psychology and Foucauldian discourse?
DP is inspired by ethno-methodology and conversation analysis, focusing on everyday interactions. FDA is influenced by Foucault and post-structuralism, focusing on how language shapes social and psychological life.
What does discursive psychology focus on?
DP studies discursive practices, emphasising what people do with language in social interactions. It is concerned with how language is used to manage social interactions and achieve interpersonal goals (e.g., justifying actions, attributing blame).
What is Foucauldian discourse analysis concerned with?
FDA focuses on the discursive resources available to people, exploring how discourse constructs subjectivity and power relations. It examines how different discourses shape people’s identity and experiences.
What kind of research questions do Discursive Psychology and Foucauldian discourse analysis address?
DP asks how language is used to negotiate and manage social interactions. FDA seeks to critique discursive worlds, exploring the implications for subjectivity and experience, such as what it means to be positioned as a particular social identity (e.g., asylum seeker).
When was discursive psychology introduced, and by whom?
Discursive psychology (DP) was introduced by Potter and Wetherell in 1987 with their publication Discourse in Social Psychology, Beyond Attitudes and Behaviour. The term ‘discursive psychology’ was later provided by Edwards and Potter in 1992.
How has discursive psychology evolved?
DP has increasingly emphasised the flexibility of discursive resources and the use of naturalistic data sources. It has drawn closer to conversation analysis (CA), focusing on the fine detail of talk in everyday interactions.
What is conversation analysis, and how is it related to Discursive Psychology?
CA studies how talk is structured and organised, documenting rules and practices in everyday interactions. It has influenced DP, and the boundary between DP and CA has become blurred, as both now focus on naturally occurring data.
What type of data does discursive psychology prioritise?
DP focuses on naturally occurring data, meaning conversations that would have happened anyway without researcher intervention, aiming to understand common features of talk in interaction.
How does Discursive psychology conceptualise psychological phenomena like memory and identity?
DP treats psychological phenomena such as memory and identity as discursive actions, not cognitive processes. These concepts are something people do in social interactions, rather than something they have.
What are discursive strategies in Discursive psychology?
DP examines how participants manage issues of stake and interest in conversations. Strategies include disclaiming, footing, using metaphors, extreme case formulations, and graphic descriptions.
How is disclaiming used to manage a social identity in Discursive psychology?
An example of disclaiming: A person might say, “I am not racist, but I think immigration control should be strengthened,” managing a potentially undesirable identity while justifying their stance by referring to a higher authority (e.g., the Prime Minister).
How does Discursive psychology critique mainstream psychology?
DP emerged as a critique of cognitivism in mainstream psychology. It re-examines psychological concepts like attitudes, memory, and prejudice through a discursive lens, challenging traditional assumptions about these concepts.
What has Discursive psychology contributed to understanding psychological constructs?
DP has respecified psychological constructs like identity and prejudice, viewing them as shared discursive practices rather than internal cognitive processes.
Has Discursive psychology continued to challenge mainstream psychology?
Over time, DP has become more incorporated into mainstream psychology. While it offers an alternative way of understanding human behavior, it has ceased to challenge the discipline as radically as it initially did.
Why does discursive psychology prefer naturally occurring texts and talk?
Discursive psychology is concerned with how people manage accountability and stake in everyday life, which is best explored through unsolicited conversations in familiar settings (e.g., home, workplace).
What are examples of naturally occurring data used in discourse analysis?
Examples include telephone conversations, police interviews, medical consultations, radio interviews, and counselling sessions.
What is a drawback of using semi-structured interviews in discourse analysis?
Semi-structured interviews often reveal how participants manage their stake as interviewees, rather than showing discursive strategies in everyday life. Researchers must also analyse both interviewers and interviewees comments.
Why might group discussions be preferable for data generation?
Group discussions, especially with pre-existing groups (friends, colleagues), can stimulate more natural conversations, making participants more relaxed and spontaneous.
What are the challenges of interviewing friends in discourse analysis?
Interviewing friends can lead to challenging dynamics and may result in reappraisals of each other, complicating the interview process.
